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Posted on 10/21/2009 7:20:14 PM PDT by neverdem
During my second term in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, I received a call from then Speaker Thomas McGee to meet with him regarding legislative matters. He got to the point quickly. "There is a State House Library Board of Trustees comprised of members from various learning institutions and prestigious libraries. Members include the secretary of state or his designee, governor or his designee, director of JFK Library, state librarian and Haverhill library director and other archivists. Two of the seats on that board have been assigned to the Speaker and the Senate President or their designees. I have noticed that you make extensive use of that library, so I am asking you to serve as my designee to that board."
As a fairly new legislator, I was stunned but appreciative. I accepted and served from 1982 to 2006 having been appointed and re-appointed by succeeding Speakers. Eventually I was elected library chair and served in that capacity from July 1991 to December 2006.
The board conducted regular meetings regarding state library budgets, acquisitions, personnel, and maintained the security of the second oldest library in the country. Our duties included the preservation of the commonwealth's one million book collection, special collection of documents, e.g. Mayflower Compact and the Bradford Manuscript.
The Bradford Manuscript is often described as the diary of the Mayflower's personnel and passengers and is stored in the State House vault whose exact site is shared with very few individuals. Once we allowed the Plymouth Historical Society to "borrow" it for their 350th anniversary. After six months of negotiations to insure its safety, we sent the document to Plymouth escorted by state troopers. It is now ensconced in the State Archives, Dorchester - under 24-hour guard.
Probably the shortest term served was by a library director who "purged the collection" by throwing out leather-bound books because "we have several copies of those books."
"What a waste," I thought. So when I spotted the leather-bound books in a State House hallway Dumpster, I climbed in and retrieved them. I donated several to local collectors and libraries. I confess, I kept one for myself. "The Acts and Resolves of 1779." Occasionally I would thumb through the book to experience the mind set of legislators in 1779. It was there I learned why the Legislature is often referred to as "The Great and General Court." There was no court system in 1779 and a wide variety of issues were brought before the Legislature for resolution.
Some years later, the recurring argument of gun control surfaced. A new legislator proposed additional controls on gun ownership.
The debate went on for hours. I remembered the old leather-bound "Dumpster" book . I rushed to my office, found the book and rushed back to the Chamber to join the debate.
The proponent of new gun ownership controls was in hot pursuit of his opponents. I joined the fray. "Mr. Speaker."
"For what purpose does the lady from Milford rise?"
"To debate, Mr. Speaker."
And there I was at the podium, "I object to the proposed changes to our gun laws," I said.
My opponent roared, "On what basis?"
"The second Constitutional amendment... the right to bear arms." I stated, firmly.
My opponent was relentless. "And where is it written, that a man has the right to a private weapon? Where is that written?"
"I thought you would never ask." I responded and read from the book's withered pages:
"Whereas by a Resolve of the General Court of this State, past the 2nd of April 1778, for raising 1300 men for North River, it was among other Things resolved that every person who supply himself with a good firelock and bayonet, cartouche-box, haversack and blanket ... shall receive, agreeable to a resolve by the Congress, ... two dollars for the use of his firelock, bayonet and cartouche and two dollars for the use of his blanket and four dollars in like proportion for either of them."
According to the Acts and Resolves of 1779, "after producing proper vouchers they were so provided. It is my considered belief the farmers earned tacit approval of private gun ownership." In conclusion, I said, "Had not the farmers brought their private weapons to the Revolutionary War we might not be standing here today."
I called for a roll call vote. The proposal to restrict ownership of private weapons went down in flames.
Speaker McGee leaned over the rostrum, and said, "where did you find that one?"
I smiled and said, "The Dumpster, sir."
I still have the book. It is a trove of common sense legislation that became the bedrock of freedom. The right to bear arms was incorporated into the Bill of Rights and enacted circa 1791.
Since we had no army, per se, in 1775, the farmer with his firelock, and his blanket helped us win our freedom! Tacit approval of private gun ownership, I say!
Marie J. Parente of Milford is a former state representative and town official.
That’s like a single match out in the desert considering MA.
Neverdem: Thanks for a wonderful story.
And, thank you, Ms. Parente for your quick action.
May I offer one slight improvement? (And, I know this has been mentioned here before, but it should be mentioned wherever appropriate.)
If you have occasion in the future, I would use the word “preexisting” to describe the right to bear that you refer to as being incorporated in the 2d A.
That is because, importantly, it was a English common law right the settlers brought with them to the new world.
While there may be a discussion about what the framers intended with the language of the 2d, the framers were quite clear with their language in the 9th A.
Thanks, I was thing firelock was a synonym of matchlock.
P.S. translate your tag line, my Vietnamese is very, very rusty.
Great story!
So did I. That's why I checked.
P.S. translate your tag line, my Vietnamese is very, very rusty.
I'm sorry sweetheart.
“Thanks, I was thinking firelock was a synonym of matchlock.
So did I. That’s why I checked.
P.S. translate your tag line, my Vietnamese is very, very rusty.
I’m sorry sweetheart.”
Smiles
OMG.
I hope this is brought up in front of SCOTUS when the time comes.
This is awesome.
Do you think these state libraries are always throwing these books away? This sounds like an important part of history, I can’t imagine they’re being dumped in th trash!!
Should we contact our state libraries?
Felons learning hard lesssons ("We confess...reservations about the concealed carry law.")
Permit or not, no concealed guns allowed in Georgetown County (SC, School District property)
Many Gun Owners Think Obama Will Try to Ban Gun Sales
Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
Thanks for the ping!
I can. What belongs in the dumpster is mostly 20th Century legislation.
lol
One of my prized possessions is a first edition book by Charles Lindberg titled “We”....about his life an flight to Paris where when he landed someone asked him if he was Lindberg and he said ...Oui !
But the title is We vs Oui......:o)
Found this book an many others in a box of trash headed for the burn barn when a old civil defense shelter was cleaned out.
Many other books collected in such a manner as in the frankfort arsenal set of explosives encyclopedias...an piles of old books from libary sales an auctions.
Another favorite is an old officers manual by Major Jas A. Moss, United States Army. Sixth Edition, revised in 1917.
It has handwriting in front cover that reads:
Property of E.M. Smiley.
Lots of Cavalry era tactics, gear, customs, courtesy, uniforms etc modified in 1917 with stuff like the use an carry of the 1911 sidearm.
Old books are gems of history in this era of cut an paste. Granted back then the editors an publishers could get away with such as well as the author if they wanted to yet IMO this was a time you got yer butt beat an run out of town if caught ln a lie.
Now they give liars the Nobel Peace Prize.
Its a crying shame that these books are being sent to landfills and burned! Yikes.
As well I sometimes feel guilty as these books were meant to be shared yet I am very careful with my own books be they fiction, non fiction or reference.
Not many will respect what they consider disposable today yet was an heirloom yesterday.
Stay safe....
I'm sure she'll be worth an appointment in the Palin Administration.
Liberal-think. Out with the old! In with the New! As in, "living Constitution" and "Planet Gore".
Mush for brains, what did you expect? The only ones on the Left who can think are the really nasty bad actors that study power-politics all the time and want millions to die in labor camps.
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